Run Forrest, Run!!
Donation protected
**GRAPHIC PHOTOS**
This all started with a post on Next Door earlier this evening...
Jeanne Miller posted regarding a sighting of a dog along Julington Creek Road near Aladdin, running in and out of traffic, eluding capture from those that were stopping to try to get him.
It was noted that he may have had an injury that some believed to be a bullet wound.
Long story short, with the help of many neighbors and hands on help from Brenda and her rock star step kids, after about an hour of chasing, we were able to capture him in someones backyard, on their dock, along the water.
It took patience, a gentle vibe, and some reassurance and much needed confidence from us newby animal rescuers of Mandarin!
After I was able to get a leash around his neck safely, we were able to get him to walk to where our cars were, and into my truck. After calling all local vet offices, we were able to get him in to a local emergency vet's office that was somewhat close by.
Upon arrival, he was weighed, and given a quick once over. The vet, Dr. Greshake, thinks he may be around 5-6 years old, is neutered, his nails had recently been trimmed, he weighed a healthy 57 pounds, but no microchip. He was wearing a brown leather collar, but no tags were attached.
After X-ray's, he was found to have suffered a gun shot, point blank, with the bullet lodged in his skull, and shrapnel behind his right eye, I believe. **SEE X-Rays and photos**
The Dr won't know until he goes in in the morning how extensive his injuries are, since he was clearly in shock when I brought him in, it was best to let him rest for the night.
I called at 9:00pm, and spoke with Sam in the office and they said he ate a little bit of food, they started IV antibitiotics, and pain meds, so he will sleep well tonight!! Blood work showed elevated white blood counts, but nothing out of the ordinary. At that moment, they couldn't say for sure how recent he had been shot in the head.
He had extensive amounts of dried blood clogged in his ears, and around his neck. His eyes were filled with blood from the pressure of the swelling of his brain and from the shrapnel that is lodged behind the one eye.
He is not out of the woods at all at this point. The swelling on his brain is significant and enough to cause his eyes to push out, so he is hoping that with meds, surgery and rest, the swelling will receed.
He is in the care of the amazing team at Mandarin Pet Emergency on Old St. Augustine Rd. (**He will not be released to anyone other than myself when it is time.**)
The vet told me that this is the second dog in less than 5 days to be brought into their office with the same type of gun shot wound, same area where we found him, same point blank injury. This needs to be reported and any help with that is appreciated!
I am a huge animal lover, as are those that obviously joined in on the efforts this evening to get him some help, and I could not just let him go. He kissed with the grossest, smelliest kisses, so I know he knows he won't be in harms way ever again.
Anyhoo...I also named him Forrest. Part for my Julington Forest neighborhood and part for the Tom Hanks character because he ran and ran and ran and ran from us tonight...LOL.
There was a woman in the waiting room that came out to me in the parking lot as I was getting ready to leave and heard all I/we had done for this boy and gave me $100 to help with his care. Her kind words meant the world to me, but more that someone else, a stranger, cared about our new found pup, Forrest.
With that being said, I have never done this before for an animal that I don't own, but he just deserves a better life after those gross kisses he gave me.
I will be contacting JSO in the morning. These acts of animal cruelty cannot go unpunished.
Whomever is doing this needs to be brought to justice.
I have been asked by several people about how they can go about donating to his care, and I will set up a GoFund me for him. I paid upfront $1,600 when I left him, that includes tonight, meds, surgery tomorrow, blood work, etc. so I'm not sure how to go about doing all that, so bare with me. I made the goal amount $1700 because I want to offset the fees associated with setting this up. Again, any and all monies go to Forrest and his care.
Any help with his medical costs is so appreciated. It won't be anything over what the bill from the vet states at the moment.
I will reach out to PitSisters, a local nonprofit rescue in the area for their guidance as well. I want Forrest to live out his days with the best forever family there is. He deserves it.
Thank you in advance for the messages, texts, etc.
I would love to make sure who has been doing this to dogs in the area be brought to justice, and I would love for Forrest to go to a good furever home in the end!!!
After surgery in the morning, I will be sure to post an update.
Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for any help.
Stephanie "I am a sucker for all animals" Aiken
This all started with a post on Next Door earlier this evening...
Jeanne Miller posted regarding a sighting of a dog along Julington Creek Road near Aladdin, running in and out of traffic, eluding capture from those that were stopping to try to get him.
It was noted that he may have had an injury that some believed to be a bullet wound.
Long story short, with the help of many neighbors and hands on help from Brenda and her rock star step kids, after about an hour of chasing, we were able to capture him in someones backyard, on their dock, along the water.
It took patience, a gentle vibe, and some reassurance and much needed confidence from us newby animal rescuers of Mandarin!
After I was able to get a leash around his neck safely, we were able to get him to walk to where our cars were, and into my truck. After calling all local vet offices, we were able to get him in to a local emergency vet's office that was somewhat close by.
Upon arrival, he was weighed, and given a quick once over. The vet, Dr. Greshake, thinks he may be around 5-6 years old, is neutered, his nails had recently been trimmed, he weighed a healthy 57 pounds, but no microchip. He was wearing a brown leather collar, but no tags were attached.
After X-ray's, he was found to have suffered a gun shot, point blank, with the bullet lodged in his skull, and shrapnel behind his right eye, I believe. **SEE X-Rays and photos**
The Dr won't know until he goes in in the morning how extensive his injuries are, since he was clearly in shock when I brought him in, it was best to let him rest for the night.
I called at 9:00pm, and spoke with Sam in the office and they said he ate a little bit of food, they started IV antibitiotics, and pain meds, so he will sleep well tonight!! Blood work showed elevated white blood counts, but nothing out of the ordinary. At that moment, they couldn't say for sure how recent he had been shot in the head.
He had extensive amounts of dried blood clogged in his ears, and around his neck. His eyes were filled with blood from the pressure of the swelling of his brain and from the shrapnel that is lodged behind the one eye.
He is not out of the woods at all at this point. The swelling on his brain is significant and enough to cause his eyes to push out, so he is hoping that with meds, surgery and rest, the swelling will receed.
He is in the care of the amazing team at Mandarin Pet Emergency on Old St. Augustine Rd. (**He will not be released to anyone other than myself when it is time.**)
The vet told me that this is the second dog in less than 5 days to be brought into their office with the same type of gun shot wound, same area where we found him, same point blank injury. This needs to be reported and any help with that is appreciated!
I am a huge animal lover, as are those that obviously joined in on the efforts this evening to get him some help, and I could not just let him go. He kissed with the grossest, smelliest kisses, so I know he knows he won't be in harms way ever again.
Anyhoo...I also named him Forrest. Part for my Julington Forest neighborhood and part for the Tom Hanks character because he ran and ran and ran and ran from us tonight...LOL.
There was a woman in the waiting room that came out to me in the parking lot as I was getting ready to leave and heard all I/we had done for this boy and gave me $100 to help with his care. Her kind words meant the world to me, but more that someone else, a stranger, cared about our new found pup, Forrest.
With that being said, I have never done this before for an animal that I don't own, but he just deserves a better life after those gross kisses he gave me.
I will be contacting JSO in the morning. These acts of animal cruelty cannot go unpunished.
Whomever is doing this needs to be brought to justice.
I have been asked by several people about how they can go about donating to his care, and I will set up a GoFund me for him. I paid upfront $1,600 when I left him, that includes tonight, meds, surgery tomorrow, blood work, etc. so I'm not sure how to go about doing all that, so bare with me. I made the goal amount $1700 because I want to offset the fees associated with setting this up. Again, any and all monies go to Forrest and his care.
Any help with his medical costs is so appreciated. It won't be anything over what the bill from the vet states at the moment.
I will reach out to PitSisters, a local nonprofit rescue in the area for their guidance as well. I want Forrest to live out his days with the best forever family there is. He deserves it.
Thank you in advance for the messages, texts, etc.
I would love to make sure who has been doing this to dogs in the area be brought to justice, and I would love for Forrest to go to a good furever home in the end!!!
After surgery in the morning, I will be sure to post an update.
Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for any help.
Stephanie "I am a sucker for all animals" Aiken
Organizer
Stephanie Smith Aiken
Organizer
Jacksonville, FL
